ALTAFF and Nordstrom award 10 matching Books for Babies grants

PHILADELPHIA – In partnership with Nordstrom, the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has awarded 10 grants for $500 each to match $1,000 raised by selected Friends of the Library groups, women’s groups and libraries for purchasing Books for Babies kits from ALTAFF. A total of 2,075 English kits and 225 Spanish kits will be distributed to parents of newborns through these grants.

The 10 grant recipients are:

Friends of the Library-Dearborn, Dearborn, Mich.

Friends of the M.E. Heggan Library, Hurffville, N.J.

Friends of the Pittsboro Memorial Library, Pittsboro, N.C.

Friends of the Tecumseh District Library, Tecumseh, Mich.
Gadsden Public Library, Gadsden, Ala.

Guilderland Public Library, Guilderland, N.Y.

Little Elm Friends of the Library, Little Elm, Texas

Richmond Memorial Library, Batavia, N.Y.

Seward Junior Women’s Club, Seward, Neb.

Southside Regional Library, Boydton, Va.

Books for Babies is a national literacy program that acquaints parents of newborns with the important role they play in the development of their children. Parents are presented with a Books for Babies kit containing a board book for baby, baby’s first library card and a variety of brochures with reading tips and early literacy information from nationally recognized educational organizations. Organizations such as Friends of the Library groups, junior leagues and other nonprofits purchase Books for Babies kits. Groups often supplement the kits with information about local resources, including library locations and contact information, as well as details about lapsit and preschool story hours. In 2008, more than 5,000 Books for Babies kits were distributed to newborns and their parents through a partnership with Nordstrom, one of the nation’s leading fashion specialty retailers with 159 stores located in 28 states. The early childhood literacy kits were purchased by 20 organizations across the country that received matching grants through a $10,000 donation given in conjunction with the publication of Nordstrom’s first book, “Once Upon a Holiday the Moon Fell Out of the Sky.” The program was so successful that Nordstrom donated another $10,000 to continue the matching grants for 2009.

ALTAFF is a division of ALA with approximately 5,000 Friends of the Library, Trustee, Foundation and individual members and affiliates representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. Begun in early 2009 with the merger of Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA) and ALTA, the new division brings together Trustees and Friends into a partnership that unites the voices of citizens who support libraries to create a powerful force for libraries in the 21st Century. For more information about ALTAFF, please contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.